Galway GAA discussion thread

Sonny678

crusier wrote:

The same could have been said about the 98 team prior to 98. I think last year we were @ 5 players short of an all ireland winning team, this year it's down to @ 2 players. We carried Ray Silke in 98 so we might only need the one!

Hopefully it would be great to see Galway back for a Galway All Ireland winning team is just what football needs.

In 98 01 that forward line of P Joyce Donnellan Fallon Savage Finnegan is as good as any in the last 30 years. Donnellan and Joyce are two of the best players to cross the Shannon in last 50 years. Only player I could think of as good would be Dermot Earley snr. Joyce gets allot of plaudits but Donnellan at his peak was the best footballer in Ireland. Between 1996 to 1999 the best footballer in Ireland was between Trevor Giles and Michael Donnellan. Michael Donnellan was like a gaa Brian O Driscoll. The midfield was very strong with Walsh and O Domhnaill. In the defence G Walsh Og De Paor Mannion D Meehan and Fitzgerald were good defenders.

Ray Silke was no Seamus Moyihan. But he was a good choice as captain. He also had leadership skills. Overall that team was the best team to come from the West in 50 years. The second best in my book would be current Mayo team and the third best the Roscommon team of late 70s.

Time will see how good the current Galway team is. But an All Ireland winning Galway team would do the game a world of good . I have heard there is great work being done at underage with Galway footballer so we will see more talent coming through soon.

Fr Tod Umptious

crusier wrote: »

In fairness fr Tom you hate Galway and you hope they don't come up with a system. The reality is they are adapting and do appear to have more than one plan. This team can win an all ireland, it needs just a few players to come on a bit and the panel is there to do it. Mayo are good at beating ****e teams in the back door and getting all excited. No matter how far they go they don't have the forwards and won't get over the finishing line!

For the past two season Mayo went on to beat the teams that had earlier beat, and in two cases eliminated, Galway, they being Tipp, Roscommon and Kerry.

Hardly "beating ***** teams in the back door" now is it.

crusier

Fr Tod Umptious wrote:

Hardly "beating ***** teams in the back door" now is it.

Fr Tod Umptious wrote:

For the past two season Mayo went on to beat the teams that had earlier beat, and in two cases eliminated, Galway, they being Tipp, Roscommon and Kerry.

Galway are improving, Mayo are regressing, that's the difference.

Fr Tod Umptious

crusier wrote: »

Galway are improving, Mayo are regressing, that's the difference.

But that's not what your post was about, you just said Mayo beat ****** teams in the qualifiers.

The theory that Mayo are regressing has yet to be proven by the way.

Yes the core of the team is ageing but they have not regressed one bit in the last two years.
They got further in 2016 and 2017 than they did in 2014 or 2015.

Everyone is writing them off, and have been for a long time (O' Rourke just before the throw in to the Galway game in 2013 is one I remember), but they are still there.

Diabhal Beag

Here Todd could ya keep Mayo talk to the Mayo thread? No point in Galwegians talking about Mayo till ye at least get Super 8's.

Fr Tod Umptious

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Here Todd could ya keep Mayo talk to the Mayo thread? No point in Galwegians talking about Mayo till ye at least get Super 8's.

I agree.

But I didn't start it

Diabhal Beag

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

I agree.

But I didn't start it

Not saying ya did and not saying it won't be a very relevant topic in here come July but it's flogging a dead horse considering how long ago Castlebar was.

I also have reason to believe Cody has hired you to keep us from focusing on the Leinster final too

rn

Congrats to Galway on your win in Hyde Park on Sunday. We were beaten by better team on the day. I think both sides had an off day in many respects. Super 8 will bring you on a lot. I really hope we avoid Tyrone and mayo in the qualifiers and if we do I think we stand a good chance to reach super 8 as well. I feel that would bring us on too as it's more games at a higher level that we need with our current bunch. Best of luck in super 8.

Utopia Parkway

U-21 hurlers named v Kilkenny

The Galway Team is

Eanna Murphy
Ian O’Shea
Fintan Burke
Shane Bannon
Jack Fitzpatrick
Mark Hughes
Sean Loftus
Thomas Monaghan
Jack Grealish
Sean Bleahane
Brian Concannon
Cianan Fahy
Evan Niland
Jack Canning
Kevin Cooney

Redo91

SecretsOfEarth wrote: »

Redo91 wrote: »

How exactly do the super 8s work? Am I right in saying we are in the pool with the Munster champs and are avoiding Dublin? Are all games in Croke Park?

Groups are:

Group 1: Munster winners, Connacht winners, Leinster runner-up (or qualifier who beats them in Rd. 4), Ulster runner-up (or qualifier who beats them in Rd. 4)

Group 2: Leinster winners, Ulster winners, Munster runner-up (or qualifier who beats them in Rd. 4)

Regarding fixtures, the first set will be played in Croke Park where the two provincial champions will play each other e.g. if the group was Kerry, Galway, Mayo and Fermanagh, Kerry v Galway and Mayo v Fermanagh would be in Croke Park.

Galway would then have a game at home against either Mayo or Fermanagh and a game away to either Mayo or Fermanagh.

It's easier to sort it out through this http://www.gaa.ie/wallchart/football/2018

According to this, if Fermanagh and Mayo were to progress to the Group (Fermanagh winning their Rd. 4 game and Mayo drawing and beating Leinster runner-up) then Galway would be away to Fermanagh in Rd. 2 and home to Mayo.

Cheers for the info. Would like another crack at Kerry in Croke Park. Last two times I’ve gone up to see us take them on I’ve gone up more in hope that anything but would nearly have us as slight favorites this time!

SecretsOfEarth

Redo91 wrote: »

Cheers for the info. Would like another crack at Kerry in Croke Park. Last two times I’ve gone up to see us take them on I’ve gone up more in hope that anything but would nearly have us as slight favorites this time!

No problem. I'm a Kerry fan and think a Galway-Kerry match in July this year would be a great spectacle. The match last year was flat in many ways - Kerry won but were disjointed, Galway left a bit to be desired and the match overall was disappointing.

I think, this time round, Kerry have some fresh faces (who will hopefully perform on Saturday evening!) and Galway want to prove themselves to establish their position as a new Top 4 team. I'd hope it would be a cracker, Kerry will want retribution after the loss in Tralee in the league while Galway will be vying to end the Croke Park drought.

Redo91

SecretsOfEarth wrote: »

Redo91 wrote: »

Cheers for the info. Would like another crack at Kerry in Croke Park. Last two times I’ve gone up to see us take them on I’ve gone up more in hope that anything but would nearly have us as slight favorites this time!

No problem. I'm a Kerry fan and think a Galway-Kerry match in July this year would be a great spectacle. The match last year was flat in many ways - Kerry won but were disjointed, Galway left a bit to be desired and the match overall was disappointing.

I think, this time round, Kerry have some fresh faces (who will hopefully perform on Saturday evening!) and Galway want to prove themselves to establish their position as a new Top 4 team. I'd hope it would be a cracker, Kerry will want retribution after the loss in Tralee in the league while Galway will be vying to end the Croke Park drought.

We had two early goal chances which might have made a difference if taken. We were way too naive in how we dealt with Donaghy too as seen with the goal. Hopefully Sean Andy will solve that. Either way should be a cracker.

I notice it is scheduled for the same weekend as the World Cup final. Be interesting to see how the GAA work it out as wont want it clashing due to the effect it would have on viewing figures.

SecretsOfEarth

Redo91 wrote: »

We had two early goal chances which might have made a difference if taken. We were way too naive in how we dealt with Donaghy too as seen with the goal. Hopefully Sean Andy will solve that. Either way should be a cracker.

I notice it is scheduled for the same weekend as the World Cup final. Be interesting to see how the GAA work it out as wont want it clashing due to the effect it would have on viewing figures.

Yeah, even though Galway didn't take all of their chances, in the moments when they attacked at speed and ran at the Kerry defence they looked impressive, they really exposed the vulnerability of our backline (like everyone does :pac: )

I think the opening fixtures for both Super 8 groups are on that weekend, so some of the fixtures will more than likely clash - I imagine they'll sacrifice the viewing figures for the games which look more likely to be one-sided depending on the composition of groups.

J.pilkington

Good coverage / analysis of the match on the gas hour (podcast) including an interview with Kevin Walsh.

I think a few of the critics on here should give it a listen.

TCDStudent1

J.pilkington wrote: »

Good coverage / analysis of the match on the gas hour (podcast) including an interview with Kevin Walsh.

I think a few of the critics on here should give it a listen.

It was a very interesting take on the game by Parkinson.

Diabhal Beag

Nervy finish but a great result for the U-21s.

Concannon and Niland looked great today. The keeper Murphy also impressive.

Refereeing was out of this world poor though for both sides.

aidan24326

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Nervy finish but a great result for the U-21s.

Concannon and Niland looked great today. The keeper Murphy also impressive.

Refereeing was out of this world poor though for both sides.

Galway were definitely the better team but as if we needed reminding you can't take your foot off the gas against Kilkenny. That nervy finish shouldn't have happened.

But overall I thought Galway were worth a bit more than the 2 point margin. There's clearly some quality coming through. Niland was good and the senior players dominated the midfield area. Kilkenny can have no complaints, they hit some terrible wides.

Happyilylost

Feck Kerry anyway.

mjp

Sounds like Ciaran Duggan's season could be over after reports say he broke his wrist in Anaaghdown's game against killannin tonight. Will be a big blow to him and Galway as his strength and mobility around the middle would be much needed in Super 8s

PCeeeee

mjp wrote: »

Sounds like Ciaran Duggan's season could be over after reports say he broke his wrist in Anaaghdown's game against killannin tonight. Will be a big blow to him and Galway as his strength and mobility around the middle would be much needed in Super 8s

That's unlucky for the lad, he was going so well.

Utopia Parkway

mjp wrote: »

Sounds like Ciaran Duggan's season could be over after reports say he broke his wrist in Anaaghdown's game against killannin tonight. Will be a big blow to him and Galway as his strength and mobility around the middle would be much needed in Super 8s

Big loss given there are 3 Super 8 games on the horizon. Conroy has not been having a good year either. We've depended on the subs a lot.

SarahOH

Supporters bus for Sunday? Heard nothing so far

kala85

The tribesmen supporters club is running a bus to the match, bus has to be booked by tomorrow.

Diabhal Beag

Ya the usual story: First option goes to Supporters Club members but if they are short of numbers to fill a second/third bus they'll have no bother letting ye on. Think it leaves Ceannt at 10.30 this time which leaves ya a bit short of time to get food and watch the start of the Munster.

testtech05

What do you guys think will the attendance be like this weekend? Its not looking like any of the upper tier is going to be open for it based off tickets.ie there are no sign of them yet anyway.

testtech05

testtech05 wrote: »

What do you guys think will the attendance be like this weekend? Its not looking like any of the upper tier is going to be open for it based off tickets.ie there are no sign of them yet anyway.

Usual attendance for this game has been around 30k.

Might be up a bit as Galway are in a better place and KK fans won't be heading into it as 1/3 shots as they were most years.

Who would have thought after the 2015 final that a mere three years later that you could get KK at 5/2 against the same opposition.

aidan24326

Seems to be very little talk about the game Sunday, not generating much interest? Be a small enough crowd I'd imagine. It will hardly break 30K unless a good few from Carlow and Westmeath turn up.

grbear

I think the heat will put some people off travelling. It's great weather for a lot of things but not for spending six or seven hours in the car, air-conditioning or not.

threeball

grbear wrote: »

I think the heat will put some people off travelling. It's great weather for a lot of things but not for spending six or seven hours in the car, air-conditioning or not.

If you end up in exposed seats in Croker you'll get fried too. Would be dodgy enough. I won't risk it with kids anyway.

I says

aidan24326 wrote: »

Seems to be very little talk about the game Sunday, not generating much interest? Be a small enough crowd I'd imagine. It will hardly break 30K unless a good few from Carlow and Westmeath turn up.

I’m getting the 1050 train from mullingar on Sunday will be in Connolly around 12.10 there is also the special that’s on Sunday 1130 leaving mullingar and arriving Drumcondra at 1240ish is fully booked for anyone who normally uses these trains might be as well book rather than chance them they are always packed for AI semis and finals

aidan24326

I says wrote: »

I’m getting the 1050 train from mullingar on Sunday will be in Connolly around 12.10 there is also the special that’s on Sunday 1130 leaving mullingar and arriving Drumcondra at 1240ish is fully booked for anyone who normally uses these trains might be as well book rather than chance them they are always packed for AI semis and finals

Is there many heading up from Westmeath? I feel Westmeath and Carlow have been badly shafted with the timing of the game.

I says

aidan24326 wrote: »

Is there many heading up from Westmeath? I feel Westmeath and Carlow have been badly shafted with the timing of the game.

Maybe 1500 or a bit more without any tv exposure it’s hard to generate interest in it for the casual supporters.

jr86

aidan24326 wrote: »

Seems to be very little talk about the game Sunday, not generating much interest? Be a small enough crowd I'd imagine. It will hardly break 30K unless a good few from Carlow and Westmeath turn up.

Yeah there was the novelty of a Galway/Wexford final last year. It was a huge occasion and it won't be touched on Sunday I'd imagine

With KK beaten in Leinster, and a league win behind them galway were being really looked upon as AI contenders so that ensured it brought out more support and the fact they were actual favourites in a Leinster final (was it the first time ever or were they in 2013 too?).

Galway have won the AI now and I'd imagine more of the fairweather fans will be holding out till August. As someone else said it's very warm weather to be travelling across the country in. With the Munster Final and World Cup on plenty may just go for a day on the couch/ beer garden instead

Utopia Parkway

aidan24326 wrote: »

Seems to be very little talk about the game Sunday, not generating much interest? Be a small enough crowd I'd imagine. It will hardly break 30K unless a good few from Carlow and Westmeath turn up.

Newbridge or nowhere has dominated the news all week. Been very little about the Munster final either but that will get a big crowd anyway with Cork in the final.

Utopia Parkway

Hurling team for Leinster final

James Skehill
Adrian Tuohy
Daithi Burke
John Hanbury
Padraic Mannion
Gearoid McInerney
Aidan Harte
Johnny Coen
David Burke
Joseph Cooney
Joe Canning
Niall Burke
Conor Whelan
Conor Cooney
Cathal Mannion

Curly head

Anyone know if the subs have been named?

MattressRick

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Hurling team for Leinster final

James Skehill
Adrian Tuohy
Daithi Burke
John Hanbury
Padraic Mannion
Gearoid McInerney
Aidan Harte
Johnny Coen
David Burke
Joseph Cooney
Joe Canning
Niall Burke
Conor Whelan
Conor Cooney
Cathal Mannion

What's the story with Colm Callinan? I'm afraid a tight game this year could be decided by a goalkeeping error and Callinan makes fewer than 1 per game. Granted in the AI last year he made 2 really but skehill is prone to brain farts.

Happyilylost

MattressRick wrote:

What's the story with Colm Callinan? I'm afraid a tight game this year could be decided by a goalkeeping error and Callinan makes fewer than 1 per game. Granted in the AI last year he made 2 really but skehill is prone to brain farts.

Had a set back. May be wrong but we may not see him this year. Galway win tomorrow I'd say it would be difficult to change unless Skehill has a disaster.

Diabhal Beag

I'd have given Flannery gametime against Dubs the last day. Skehill's puckouts are fantastic and he can save the odd penalty but he can cost goals from the silliest of blunders.

MfMan

Happyilylost wrote: »

Had a set back. May be wrong but we may not see him this year. Galway win tomorrow I'd say it would be difficult to change unless Skehill has a disaster.

Current (paper) talk seems to say that he's on the mend and could yet feature this season.

Happyilylost

MfMan wrote:

Current (paper) talk seems to say that he's on the mend and could yet feature this season.

I think he'll be back for sure. I more meant Galway win tomorrow and Skehill does o.k. can hardly see him being dropped for an All Ireland Semi Final. Big to call to make to hand a keeper his first start for the season in a semi final.

donnem33

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

I'd have given Flannery gametime against Dubs the last day. Skehill's puckouts are fantastic and he can save the odd penalty but he can cost goals from the silliest of blunders.

I would prefer Skehill over Flannery. Flannery has conceded very soft goals throughout his underage career. Tbf to Skehill, he has been solid throughout the round robin

Borders no.2

donnem33 wrote: »

I would prefer Skehill over Flannery. Flannery has conceded very soft goals throughout his underage career. Tbf to Skehill, he has been solid throughout the round robin

You obviously must have left the Dublin game at half time so but ya up to that game couldn't really fault him. I'd still give him the nod over flannery but undoubtedly he is the big worry as we come to the business end.

kala85

What happens if the leinster final is a draw after normal time, does it go to extra time and frees or a straight away to a replay?

Hulk Hands

Lest noone forget, after yet another beating dished out by our minors, senior Connacht champions. Top dogs in Connacht and all being equal, the natural Connacht hierarchy will remain for a while to come

Heraldoffreeent

Hulk Hands wrote: »

Lest noone forget, after yet another beating dished out by our minors, senior Connacht champions. Top dogs in Connacht and all being equal, the natural Connacht hierarchy will remain for a while to come

Lets not be triumphalist about this............














But halli-feckin=looyah!!

Utopia Parkway

Hulk Hands wrote: »

Lest noone forget, after yet another beating dished out by our minors, senior Connacht champions. Top dogs in Connacht and all being equal, the natural Connacht hierarchy will remain for a while to come

Feel for Mayo in a way. I remember the great Galway team of 98-01 being beaten by Donegal in a Castlebar replay in 2003 and you just knew the journey was all over for that team. Very sad feeling but at least that side had 2 All-Ireland medals to ease their pain. Mayo just have the memories. Always sad to see a loved team reach it's natural end but it happens to them all.

I says

Fcuk that anyway today the fowards never performed when the game was there for the taking Jason Flynn should have tapped it over and JCs missed free let them back in.
Having said that KK didn’t spring any surprises which I thought they would it can only get better the next day.

threeball

Played well within ourselves and should still have won. I would rather have lost today than had to bother with the replay though. Schedule is heavier now.

Utopia Parkway

I says wrote: »

Fcuk that anyway today the fowards never performed when the game was there for the taking Jason Flynn should have tapped it over and JCs missed free let them back in.
Having said that KK didn’t spring any surprises which I thought they would it can only get better the next day.

Could have tapped over about 4 easy points today but lads seemed fixated on getting a goal and the final pass never seemed to go to hand or someone held onto possession a bit too long and the chance went.

In a low scoring game it might have been wiser just to take the easy points than trying to force goal chances.

Definitely felt like the team was a bit complacent today for whatever reason. Very poor in the first half and only for some bad Kilkenny shooting they should have been further behind at the break. Much better in the 2nd to be fair where they were largely on top until coughing up some very avoidable scores in injury time.

Backs were mostly excellent but midfield and the forwards lacked their usual intensity and sharpness.